Senator: Cabinet execs spent P100M for infomercials in 2009

Some Cabinet members have spent at least P100 million for so-called infomercials this year alone, a senator said Sunday, citing records of the Commission on Audit (COA). In a radio interview, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said the figure could go higher as these Cabinet officials may have taken funds from other sources for their radio-TV infomercials. “Itong 2009 pa lang, P100 million na ang ginastos nila sa pangkalahatan para doon sa sabi nilang infomercial nila. ‘Di ba naman pagnakaw yan ng pera ng gobyerno (This year alone, they spent P100 million for so-called infomercials. Is that not stealing taxpayers’ money)?" she said in an interview on dzBB radio. When asked if it is possible the amount involved in such infomercials could go up to the billions, she gave an affirmative answer. Santiago, vice chairwoman of the Senate’s finance committee, said she will seek to put in place guidelines for the use of the advertising-expense accounts. Other countries like the United States and Australia already have such guidelines in place, she said. “That’s why I’m breaking it up para pagdating ng budget, at least magkaroon ng guidelines ang advertising-expense account na yan. Ipipilit ko yan dahil vice chair ako ng finance committee (I’m breaking up the amounts so when the 2010 proposed budget comes, we’ll set guidelines for the use of the accounts. I’ll push for it as vice chairwoman of the finance committee)," she said. Santiago said COA records showed the Cabinet members and officials of the executive branch spent some P118 million in 2008 and 2009 for infomercials they starred in. However, she did not name names or give a breakdown of the P118 million. She said she would bare more details in a privilege speech at the Senate on Monday. “Biro mo, itong mga nangangampanya na miyembro ng Gabinete at iba pang mga opisyal ng executive branch sa mga taong 2008 to 2009, gumastos ng P118 million. Yan ang figures, sabihin mo nang P120 million ng pera ng nagbayad ng buwis para sa kanilang pangangampanya, yung kanilang advertisements sa TV na tinatawag nilang infomercial (These officials who are campaigning already spent P118 million from 2008 to 2009. That’s nearly P120 million in taxpayers’ money for campaigning)," she said. On the other hand, Santiago said the amount spent by Cabinet members could be much bigger, as her records were based only on COA reports. “Ano pa ang ibang kabulastugan na ginagawa nitong mga ito na 'di makikita ng COA dahil tinatakpan nila? Kung maari lang sana ipabaril natin sa Luneta (What other sources of funds could they have tapped that the COA did not notice? I’d like to have them shot at the Luneta)," she said. Santiago said some of the Cabinet officials apparently availed of the advertising expense accounts. She did not mention what departments had these accounts, however. The advertising expenses have clearance from the Department of Budget and Management, she added. "We found some executive department officials were entitled to an advertising expense account, which is not equal for all departments. What is the basis of the executive department for this expense?" she said. But Santiago was more lenient on her colleagues from the Senate, saying they spent their own money and they had no advertising expenses in their budgets. Still, she said they should have obeyed the letter and the spirit of the law, instead of just citing a technicality. On the other hand, Santiago said the Cabinet members will find themselves in deeper trouble if they claimed their infomercials were paid for by “friends." She said the Anti-Graft Law prohibits public officials from receiving “manifestly excessive" gifts, although “nominal or insignificant" gifts are acceptable. But, she said, a 30-second TV commercial already costs P500,000 – and such ads would cost millions if they are played repeatedly in a single day. She added that one can be held liable under the Anti-Graft Law for accepting such gifts from ‘friends.’ A 30-second TV spot costs P500,000, and that those having infomercials accepted several P500,000 gifts because there are several 30-second TV ads aired in one day. Santiago said the officials involved in the infomercials may be held liable for violating the Penal Code, the Anti-Graft Law and even the Election Code for using taxpayers’ money “directly or indirectly." Meanwhile, Santiago said she would ask her fellow senators to support a complaint she will lodge against these Cabinet officials before the Ombudsman if they do not pull out their infomercials by the end of this month. She also noted she is already being made a target of unfavorable comments by what she called "paid hacks" of those whose paths she crossed. “I am not the most popular senator in the Philippine Senate. Pero mag-aapela ako sa kanila. Nasa kanila yan. Meron akong mga kaibigan diyan maski kontra partido na alam kong mga matino yan. Nasa sa pagkonsulta ko yan. Kung makumbinsi ko sila lalo na ang mga abogado na tama pala ang sinasabi ko, siguro naman ay boboto sila (I am not the most popular senator in the Senate. But I will appeal to my colleagues and make them see things my way. I know many of them who are not my party-mates will support me on the basis of principle)," she said. - GMANews.TV